Table-topping Warriors sink Sharks

Whitley Warriors soared to the top of the NIHL 1 North standings after beating title rivals Solway Sharks last weekend. The Tynesiders clinching a victory over the Dumfries-based side for the first time in nine games.

Whitley named an unchanged team from the one that beat Deeside Dragons last week, aside from Mark Turnbull coming in as back up for starting goaltender Josh Crane.

The Sharks arrived with seventeen skaters including former Whitley players Ross Murray and Christian Johnson, while Calum Hepburn was the only goalie to make the trip.

Whitley were very much the stronger side during the opening period and thought they had taken the lead when the goal light came on, but referee Daniel Ferguson was quick to wave it off and the score remained goalless.

The Warriors continued to exert their superiority during the first session, hitting the post with an early attempt and Dean Holland, who led by example with a captain’s performance, had his team competing for every puck as they outshot their opponents 15-7.

However, a side as strong as Solway are never down for long and they started to grow into the game before the period was over.

Another well contested period in the second session saw both sides match up well, but the deadlock was finally broken at 34:27 when Adam Finlinson found the net from a Rihards Grigors pass.

Whitley’s lead wouldn’t last long, just thirteen seconds in fact as straight from the face off Solway went down the other end of the ice and got back on level terms with an excellent finish from Jonathan McBean. The youngster, on a two-way deal with the Dundee Stars, was proving to be the Sharks’ most potent weapon in their attack and worked well with his linemates Scott and Connor Henderson.

That goal seemed to give the Sharks fresh belief and maybe even Whitley taking the lead was the wake up call they needed. That was evident when they struck the post moments later as the visitors were very much in the ascendency at that point.

But having survived that particular scare, Whitley were able to restore their lead at 37:02 when Steven Chalmers converted from Shaun Kippin and Harry Harley for what was a very well worked team goal. The home side took that lead with them into the break, but it was certainly a more even period of hockey as Whitley edged it 13-12 in shots.

Whitley, who played with great energy throughout the contest, continued to compete for every puck but Solway stepped it up in the last ten minutes as they gave it a final push and showed their dominance by outshooting their hosts 16-7. Whitley were hanging on to their slender one goal lead and were thankful to goalie Josh Crane who came up with a huge save right near the end to secure the points.

Solway ran into penalty trouble in the last two minutes of the game and were unable to pull Calum Hepburn for the extra attacker until the final six seconds but Warriors defended strongly to see it out.

This was a huge win for the Warriors, not least for the fact it was their first success over their rivals since February 2, 2020. It also breaks down the psychological barrier they had throughout last season as they have learned how to beat the Sharks again. With so many changes to the Warriors line up ahead of this season there was perhaps some apprehension as to how successful the team would be during the campaign, especially with some senior players no longer there.

Although there is still plenty of hockey to be played between now and the end of the season, if the Warriors are to make a title challenge it will go down as David Longstaff’s greatest coaching achievement.

Stats

Shots on goal
Warriors: 35
Sharks: 35

Points
Warriors: Adam Finlinson (1+0), Steven Chalmers (1+0), Rihards Grigors (0+1), Shaun Kippin (0+1), Harry Harley (0+1).
Sharks: Jonathan McBean (1+0), Scott Henderson (0+1), Connor Henderson (0+1).

Penalty minutes
Warriors: 6
Sharks: 10

Man of the Match
Warriors: Josh Crane
Sharks: Calum Hepburn